Tension cord fastener structure

ABSTRACT

A fastener structure is provided for fastening an elastic object and includes a bore-carrying fastening member and a pivot-carrying fastening member, which form grip band receiving holes and receiving channels and which have inner sides forming concave arc surfaces. The bore-carrying fastening member forms a bore that rotatably receives a pivot formed on the pivot-carrying fastening member therein. The locking member forms two flanges, which are respectively receivable in the receiving channels of the bore-carrying fastening member and the pivot-carrying fastening member so that the bore-carrying fastening member and the pivot-carrying fastening member are combinable together with the locking member with the concave arc surfaces of the bore-carrying fastening member and the pivot-carrying fastening member and a concave arc surface of the locking member together define and delimit a conic bore for receiving and fastening the elastic object.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a tension cod fastener structure, which comprises a bore-carrying fastening member, a pivot-carrying fastening member, and a locking member, which are releasably combinable to fasten an end of a tension cord therebetween and prevent the tension cord from sliding off the fastener structure in the use thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Body fitting facility or exercise equipments often use an elongate elastic object, which is for example a metal spring or a cord made of synthetic fibers or high-molecule polymers each having its own advantages and disadvantages. Among these elastic objects, a high-molecule polymer cord has the advantages of light weight and high extensibility and is easy for carrying and use. However, such a material of light weight and high extensibility is hard to have ends thereof properly and securely fastened. An unexpected loosening of the elastic object during the use thereof may cause danger. Conventionally, to fasten the ends of the elastic object, a knot is made or a stop member is attached to an end of the elastic body. Such a knot or the stop member has a diameter larger than a through hole defined in a grip so as to secure the elastic object to the grip. Due to the tension induced in the elastic object during the use thereof, the end of the elastic object that is made size-expanded to secure to the grip may undergo deformation and thus shrinkage of the size to such an extent that the end of the elastic object slides off the through hole of the grip. Further, fastening an elastic object in such a way often makes it difficult, if not impossible, to release the elastic object for replacement and thus cause certain troubles in the use of the elastic object. Thus, it is desired to have a solution to overcome such a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above discussed problems, the present invention aims to provide a fastener structure that overcomes those problems of the prior art.

The present invention provides a tension cord fastening structure, which comprises a bore-carrying fastening member and a pivot-carrying fastening member each having an outer side wall in which a grip band receiving hole is defined for receiving a band extending from a grip therethrough. The bore-carrying fastening member and the pivot-carrying fastening member have opposing faces in each of which a receiving channel is formed for individually receiving a flange of the locking member therein. The pivot-carrying fastening member carries thereon a pivot that is rotatably received in a bore defined in the bore-carrying fastening member and the flanges of the locking member are respectively received in the receiving channels of the pivot-carrying fastening member and the bore-carrying fastening member, whereby these fastening members and the locking member are combined together in such a way that concave arc surfaces formed on inner sides of these members define and delimit a bore, which is conic in shape for receiving and fixing an end of an elastic object therein.

With the pivot of the pivot-carrying fastening member received in the bore of the bore-carrying fastening member, the pivot-carrying fastening member and the bore-carrying fastening member are rotatable with respect to each other about the pivot for selectively opening and closing. When the pivot-carrying fastening member and the bore-carrying fastening member are opened, an elastic object can be positioned between the pivot-carrying fastening member and the bore-carrying fastening member and then the fastening members are closed to allow a pawl formed on a lower portion of the locking member to slide over a locking sliding face of the bore-carrying fastening member so that the flanges of the locking member can be slidably fit into the receiving channels of the pivot-carrying fastening member and the bore-carrying fastening member to secure the fastening members together thereby fastening elastic object that is received in the bore in position inside the fastener structure. Being different from the existing techniques that employs a knot or a stop member to fix the elastic object, the present invention uses the concave arc surfaces of the fastening members and the locking member that constitute a conic bore of which an upper end diameter is greater than a lower end diameter thereof to fasten an elastic object, so that the elastic object, when stretched and thus deformed, is subjected to constraint imposed by the conic bore, causing expansion of diameter at the end thereof to thereby make tight engagement with the concave arc surfaces so as to effectively secure and fasten the end of the elastic object. Further, with the arrangement of the locking member, besides the effectively realized operation safety and secured fastening, easy replacement and adjustment of the elastic object are also realized.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fastener structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the fastener structure of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is also an exploded view of the fastener structure of the present invention taken from a different perspective.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partially broken, showing the fastener structure of the present invention in an assembled form.

FIG. 5 is another perspective view, partially broken, showing the fastener structure of the present invention in an assembled form.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of the fastener structure of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

A preferred embodiment of a fastener structure according to the present invention will be illustrated hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, in order to give a description to the structure and function thereof for the purposes of better understanding of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1-6, the present invention provides a fastener structure for a tension cord and the tension cord fastener of the present invention comprises a locking member 1, a bore-carrying fastening member 2, and a pivot-carrying fastening member 3, which will be described individually hereinafter.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, each of the bore-carrying fastening member 2 and the pivot-carrying fastening member 3 has an outer side wall in which a grip band receiving hole 20 is defined for receiving a band 41 extending from a grip 4 therethrough. The bore-carrying fastening member 2 and the pivot-carrying fastening member 3 have opposing faces in each of which a receiving channel 22 is formed for individually receiving a flange 11 of the locking member 1 therein. The pivot-carrying fastening member 3 carries thereon a pivot 31 that is rotatably received in a bore 21 defined in the bore-carrying fastening member 2 and the flanges 11 of the locking member 1 are respectively received in the receiving channels 22 of the pivot-carrying fastening member 3 and the bore-carrying fastening member 2, whereby these fastening members 2, 3 and the locking member 1 are combined together in such a way that concave arc surfaces 10 formed on inner sides of these members define and delimit a bore 100, which, according to the present invention, is conic in shape for receiving and fixing an end of an elastic object 5 therein.

Reference is continuously made to FIGS. 1-6. As shown in FIG. 6, with the pivot 31 of the pivot-carrying fastening member 3 received in the bore 21 of the bore-carrying fastening member 2, the pivot-carrying fastening member 3 and the bore-carrying fastening member 2 are rotatable with respect to each other about the pivot for selectively opening and closing. When the pivot-carrying fastening member 3 and the bore-carrying fastening member 2 are opened, the elastic object 5 can be positioned between the pivot-carrying fastening member 3 and the bore-carrying fastening member 2 and then the fastening members 2, 3 are closed to allow a pawl 12 formed on a lower portion of the locking member 1 to slide over a locking sliding face 23 of the bore-carrying fastening member 2 so that the flanges 11 of the locking member 1 can be slidably fit into the receiving channels 22 of the pivot-carrying fastening member 3 and the bore-carrying fastening member 2 to secure the fastening members 2, 3 together thereby fastening elastic object 5 that is received in the bore 100 in position inside the fastener structure. Since the concave arc surfaces 10 of the fastening members 2, 3 and the locking member 1 constitute a conic bore 100 of which an upper end (as shown in the drawings) diameter is greater than a lower end diameter thereof, the elastic object 5, when stretched and thus deformed, undergoes expansion of diameter at the end thereof thereby making tight engagement with the concave arc surfaces 10 to effectively secure and fasten the end of the elastic object. To replace or adjust the elastic object 5, the pawl 12 of the locking member 1 is forced inward and an operation is performed through an operation bar 13 of the locking member 1 to move the locking member 1 out of the fastening members 2, 3 so as to release the fastening members 2, 3 and free the elastic object 5.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 

1. A fastener structure adapted to fasten an elastic object and comprising a bore-carrying fastening member and a pivot-carrying fastening member, which form grip band receiving holes and receiving channels and which have inner sides forming concave arc surfaces, the bore-carrying fastening member forming a bore that rotatably receives a pivot formed on the pivot-carrying fastening member therein, the locking member forming two flanges, which are respectively receivable in the receiving channels of the bore-carrying fastening member and the pivot-carrying fastening member so that the bore-carrying fastening member and the pivot-carrying fastening member are combinable together with the locking member with the concave arc surfaces of the bore-carrying fastening member and the pivot-carrying fastening member and a concave arc surface of the locking member together define and delimit a conic bore for receiving and fastening the elastic object.
 2. The fastener structure according to claim 1, wherein the bore-carrying fastening member forms a locking sliding face in the receiving channel thereof.
 3. The fastener structure according to claim 1, wherein the locking member forms a pawl.
 4. The fastener structure according to claim 1, wherein the conic bore has an upper end diameter greater than a lower end diameter. 